Talking Points: Sen. Klobuchar’s ‘Auto-Pilot’ Re-Election

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — As we head into the November elections, a race for U.S. Senate is often the most anticipated in any state.

But when it comes to the re-election bid by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, there are increasing signs that the Senator can run her campaign on auto-pilot.

Right now, Real Clear Politics, a highly respected political website estimates that Klobuchar will beat her opponent freshman Rep. Kurt Bills by 26 percentage points. Bills had tried to attack Klobuchar as a rubber stamp for the President.

But right now, even that argument is a tough one as Sen. Klobuchar has joined Republicans to fight for a repeal of a medical device tax — a repeal the President says he will veto.

Sen. Klobuchar appeared today on WCCO Sunday Morning.

“I differ with the administration on the medical device tax,” Klobuchar said. “It’s clear because of that threatened veto we are going to have to do something different with this in the Senate in terms of how we pay for it. When the Health Care bill was being debated I was able to get the tax down in half along with Sen. Franken to get that done and we are still left with a tax that could hurt Minnesota businesses.”

If polling numbers continue to show Klobuchar holding onto such a commanding lead — it is unlikely Bills will get a lot of help from Republicans across the country. Republicans have a real shot at retaking control of the Senate and national Republican groups are more likely to funnel funds into Senate races that appear a lot closer.

As for Klobuchar, she has $5 million in her campaign war chest right now.